PEDESTRIANS’ RIGHTS

Waipa Post, Volume 42, Issue 3304, 2 June 1931, Page 3

PEDESTRIANS’ RIGHTS

Apparently in all seriousness, the suggestion was made a few days ago, at a conference of motorists from all parts of New Zealand, that an amendment should be made in the law so as to prevent people from walk- ; , ing on the roads except where there :1 are not footpaths. The fact that we are living in an age in which the development and multiplication of mechanical devices have brought about a revolution in practice not only in industry but also in popular custom is one that must be fully realised. It is to however, that there still remain to the individual some traces'of. a freedom to exercise his own choice as to how he shall act as long as he does not interfere unduly with the rights of other people. It would be foolish to deny that a great many people make an exasperating use of their undoubted right of walking on the roads which some motorists seem to regard as their particular reserve. These people are as heedless—sometimes ’as deliberately heedless—of the rights of motorists as the least considerate of motorists are contemptuous of the rights of the more humble pedestrians. The law recognises the rights of the pedestrian as well as that of the motorist to use the road, but demands of him that, in doing so, he shall exercise all reasonable care to avoid accident. In some countries the onus is cast upon the pedestrian of absolving himself from blame if an accident in which he becomes involved with a motorist in 'a roadway. The principle, however, that it is at his personal risk that a pedestrian. ventures to use a road atall where a footpath exists, is one for which, even if it were otherwise justifiable, there is no call whatever in a country that is by no means crowded. The golden rule is that every one should respect the legitimate rights of others in his use of public thoroughfares. There are motorists in every community who are apt to disregard this. So also are there many pedestrians.—Otago Daily Times.